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HENDERSON — Granville Vance Public Health says it is now offering a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccines to people who are immunocompromised.
The shots are available to people who are undergoing treatment for a solid tumor or blood cancer, are taking immunosuppressive therapy after an organ transplant, have a moderate or severe immunodeficiency, have advanced or untreated HIV, and others.
“An additional third dose of COVID-19 Vaccine is intended to improve immunocompromised people’s response to their initial vaccine series and is actually not the same thing as a booster dose,” Lisa Harrison, the public health director, wrote in a weekly newsletter.
The health department will provide the third dose to people who qualify. Harrison said it is only for people with specific conditions or treatments that substantially weaken their immune system.
“This additional dose will offer valuable protection to those who need it, especially as we face a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the delta variant,” said Dr. Elizabeth Tilson, state health director and chief medical officer at the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, in a statement. “I encourage those who are eligible to get this additional dose.”
If available, a person’s third dose should be the same brand of vaccine as the first two doses, and should be taken at least 28 days after the second dose. Anyone who got a single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is not recommended for an additional dose right now.
Booster shots, which could be made available to anyone who already got a vaccine shot, would aim to increase their immune response, which can wane over time.
Booster shots are expected to be available in the near future for people who were vaccinated at least eight months ago.
As of Aug. 20, 63% of Granville County residents over the age of 12 had gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 58% of the population had been fully vaccinated. The health department said it has administered more than 33,600 doses of vaccine.
“Vaccination against COVID-19 is the best line of defense for our immune systems to fight off COVID-19 and the severe illness some people get from it,” Harrison said. “Vaccines are safe and effective.”
A doctor can recommend patients get a third dose, the health department said, and can help schedule an appointment to get the vaccine. People can also call the health department at 919-693-2141, visit MySpot.nc.gov, or call the state hotline at 888-675-4567. You can also text your zip code to 438829 to find vaccine locations near you.
